Bruneians get scholarships to study in Korea, France

A LOCAL journalist has been awarded the Korean Government Scholarship for Postgraduates 2008, the only Bruneian to qualify for the grant this year.

Nurfauzanna Abu Bakar will begin her Korean language course in September at Inha University, Incheon for a year, after which she will be transferred to another university to pursue her two-year Master's degree programme in International Relations.

The scholarship programme, introduced for the first time, provides Bruneian citizens the opportunity to pursue advanced studies at higher educational institutions in Korea.

All costs such as airfares, monthly allowances, settlement allowances, repatriation allowances, medical insurances, as well as undergraduate tuitions and language training expenses will be fully supported by the Korean government.

The scholar is scheduled to fly off on August 26. In an interview, she said she was very much looking forward to begin her studies in Korea.

"I've made contacts with other scholars (from other countries) who were awarded the scholarship," she said, adding that she is looking forward to meet new people and being independent.

"The scholarship award is a personal accomplishment on so many levels," she said with a smile.

The 25-year-old has always been interested in Korea.

"It started when I studied the history of Korea at UBD," she said. The lesson inspired her to learn more about Korea and she was "impressed" with the developments the country has achieved over the years.

Prior to her departure, a scholarship award ceremony took place yesterday at the Chancery of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in her honour.

During the ceremony, Hwang Won Kun, Korean Ambassador to Brunei expressed high hopes for the success of the recipient's studies in Korea. Hwang advised her to study the Korean language in depth, as it will facilitate her in her forthcoming postgraduate course.

Korea is one of the countries to which the Ministry of Education has expanded its scope of destinations for further studies.

Meanwhile, another Bruneian has been awarded a scholarship to undertake further studies at a university in France.

Dk Rafidah Pg Hj Ahmad will be the fourth Bruneian student to attend a French university, and the third to study at the University of Besancon.

She has been granted a Ministry of Education scholarship to pursue a four-year Bachelor of Language Sciences and Information programme at the university.

The former Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College student will also be undergoing intensive courses in the University Applied Linguistic Centre as well as a special programme for foreign students to learn about the French culture and society.

Dk Rafidah has been studying the French language since 2001 and had been sent to France for a three-week course in 2004. She follows in the footsteps of Rokiah Asmakhan, a French teacher from the Science College and Pg Hj Matahir, former French teacher in STPRI, who had previously attended the Besancon University.

Another Bruneian, Dk Raudzah Pg Dato Paduka Hj Idris Ibnu Al-Marhum Pg Temanggung Pg Hj Mohammad, studied French at La Sorbonne University, the oldest and most prestigious university in Paris.

Dk Rafidah encourages more students to study French as it is an interesting subject and one that is rich in history.

She will be leaving for France on August 24, 2008.

A farewell reception was held for her yesterday at the Alliance Francaise de Brunei. Present to officiate the ceremony was the President of Alliance Francaise Pg Dato Hj Idris, who stressed the importance of the French language. (JQR1 & AIS1)The Brunei Times